×
×
homepage logo
SUBSCRIBE

Community invited to participate in 70th annual National Day of Prayer events

By Genelle Pugmire - | Apr 29, 2022

Courtesy Jared Halverson

Jared Halverson will be the guest speaker during evening events for Utah County's National Day of Prayer devotional on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Seventy years ago, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed the springtime National Day of Prayer to join the fall event started by Abraham Lincoln now known as Thanksgiving.

To celebrate this anniversary, the Utah Valley Interfaith Association will be joining forces with America’s Freedom Festival at Provo, Orem Summerfest, Keeping the Faith in Downtown Provo, Orem Public Library and Brigham Young University to host two National Day of Prayer events, a sunrise service and evening devotional, next Thursday.

“All community members, regardless of their faith traditions, are encouraged to attend,” said Kena Mathews, Utah Valley Interfaith Association spokeswoman. “Refreshments will be provided at both events.”

The day will start with a sunrise service on the patio on the east side of the Harman Building at Brigham Young University at 7 a.m. The event will begin with a flag ceremony followed by a keynote address by Olympic medalist Noelle Pikus-Pace. Faith and community leaders will offer prayers and scriptures. Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO of the United Way of Utah County, will be conducting the services, according to Mathews.

“The evening devotional will be held at the new Orem Library Hall beginning at 7 p.m. Jared Halverson, religious scholar and instructor and the host of the popular podcast ‘Unshaken,’ will be the special guest speaker with rising stars, daddy and daughter duo Mat and Savanna Shaw, and the well-known Utah Valley Interfaith Choir providing uplifting music,” Mathews added. “Steve Kapp Perry, BYU radio host of the ‘In Good Faith’ (podcast), will be emcee (Thursday) evening.”

Both events will also be livestreamed on the City of Orem’s Facebook page.

In addition to the two local events, inspirational messages from area community and faith leaders will be shared on the Utah Valley Interfaith Association’s Facebook page.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation.

The Utah Valley Interfaith Association includes more than 40 different religious denominations throughout the Wasatch Front. The organization aims to improve the relationship between different religious groups within the community in the hope of creating a more tolerant environment for all.

For more information about the local National Day of Prayer events, look online at www.facebook.com/UtahValleyInterfaith.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)